Whether on your favourite jeans, winter jacket or sleeping bag: a broken zip is annoying - the complete replacement is often so expensive and laborious that it's not worth the effort. But sometimes it's not even necessary, because you can easily repair a zip yourself. We provide tips for when things go wrong.
The slider, also known as the zip or slide, is the element that connects the two sides. It is often used and therefore subject to heavy wear and tear and is frequently the problem when repairing a zip. If one side of the zip keeps slipping out, the slider is probably worn out. Try using pliers to carefully press the two ‘wings’ of the zip back together again.
If the zip can hardly be moved at all or only jerkily, the small teeth on the hinges may be bent. You can repair a metal zip by quickly opening and closing the slider several times - this will bring the teeth back into the correct position. A little oil or graphite can also help as a lubricant. The latter is the material from which pencil leads are made. Hand washing soap also fulfils this lubricating purpose.
Unfortunately, these methods will not help with a plastic zip fastener, but you can try to carefully straighten crooked teeth and repair the zip fastener in this way. Proceed with caution, as plastic can break easily.
Tip: If the handle on the zip is broken, you can replace it with a rubber band or a paper clip.
At the lower end, for example on jackets, the zip closes with a pin or a box for hooking the slider. If this box is torn in or off, this often means the end for a zip - repairing it is hardly possible. There are spare parts available, but as the fabric around it is usually also broken, the new box for the slider can no longer hold and the zip has to be completely replaced.
If only the plastic-reinforced end (bottom or top) is defective and the slider is fraying, there is a better chance of being able to repair the zip - yourself and without having to replace it completely. Using a needle and as thick a thread as possible, you can sew a kind of bartack over the frayed section with several stitches. Of course, you should first put the slider back on the tape.
Incidentally, there is a tip circulating online about repairing zips with a straw. This involves replacing frayed plastic ends with a short piece of cut straw and sewing it to the zip tape. This sounds clever in theory, but in reality it works more badly than right.
Final tip: To reduce the risk of a zip wearing out, jamming or otherwise breaking, always wash your clothes with the zip closed.
Do you have other problem items in your wardrobe that are far too good to throw away? Then read on to find out how you can easily repair clothes or browse our #Renew topics for specific upcycling and repair tips for jumpers, jeans and other items.